Trilogy of Fates

By Eric Mawsón

Our greatest life-changing event was one trillionth of a second after the birth of our universe. Over thirteen billion years later our lives continue to change from intersecting and unsuspecting moments of life. Four billion years ago our solar system evolved, eventually humans inhabited our planet. Each with another human changes our

• Language: English
• Publisher: EC Publishing LLC
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953821171

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Copyright © 2021 by Eric Mawsón.

ISBN 978-1-953821-17-1 Ebook

ISBN 978-1-953821-16-4 Paperback

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Contents

Prologue

Part 1 The Fates of War

The Philippines, December 1944

Loay Bohol, Philippines 1945

The Philippines, The Island of Luzon, 1946

Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines 1969

South Vietnam, Bien Hoa December 1972

Malacañang Palace, Manila Philippines, May 1975

Tripler Army Medical Center Honolulu August 1st1975

Part II The Fates of Survival

Durham City, England, 1955

Honolulu Hawaii June 1974

Claremont-Ferrand France, February 1975

Beirut January 1975

Aviano Air Force Base, Italy September 1975

The Mediterranean

Part III Rendezvous of Fates

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, July 1976

Epilogue

Dedicated to: Patrick Magonocal Murphy and all the Murphy Clan whose journeys through life and overcoming serious tragedies has never shaken his faith in God.

And

Mena Delacruz: who allowed me to use her name and whose warmth, spirit,

independence and love of life has warmed the hearts of those who have known her.

Prologue

Our greatest life changing event was one trillionth of a second after the birth of the universe. Over thirteen billion years later our lives continue to change from intersecting and unsuspecting moments of life. Four billion years ago our solar system evolved, eventually humans inhabited our planet and civilization was created. Each intersection with another human changes our destiny or fate forever. As though one billiard ball strikes another each changing the position of the other never to be in the same static place again until they collide with another billiard ball. Each changing their positions on the billiard table forever.

As history has proven, changes in our destiny can never be undone, but history can repeat itself only similar circumstances, characters and situations have changed with time.

Part 1 The Fates of War

Chapter 1

The Philippines, December 1944

Beads of sweat trickled into his eyes, eventually cascading down his face soaking his shirt. Already most of his clothes were damp from his sweat and the stifling humidity as hot sticky humid air emanated from the jungle floor from an earlier morning shower. Vines and thick jungle overgrowth helped conceal his position His rapid breathing and trembling body told him that at any time now he and his two assassins would ambush a Japanese patrol. But for now, he must lie quietly. The muffled silence of the jungle canopy meant only danger to those who knew how to react and read the silence that emanated from their concealed positions. Numerous red ants continued to travel over his body in unison one behind the other. Each one heading for the sweet nectar of orchid plants that had made their home on the Banyan tree that concealed his position. Swatting the red ants from his face he tried to lie quietly concealing his position along with his two companions Ferdinand and Luis. For almost two hours the three guerilla fighters laid quietly well-hidden alongside a small stream strewn with large boulders. For the Japanese patrol it was easier traveling through the jungle following the clearing of a small stream that meandered lazily throughout the jungle. In the meantime, Ensign Ron Garron lay behind the extraordinary giant roots of the Banyan Tree. The jungle was quiet except for an occasional sound of a bird or a monkey. The shade of the jungle canopy gave no relief, it trapped the hot tropical humid heat. Other than the insects that wandered on the jungle floor, not a living thing stirred it was almost sacred, yet he knew very soon it would be loud and violent.

Ferdinand are you sure they’ll will be coming this way? It’s been almost two hours. Where are they Ron said muffling his question as quietly as possible to Ferdinand.

Quiet Ron, reprimand Ferdinand, You’ll give us away and then we’re all dead. Yeah, my sources say the Japanese will be coming this way sometime about noon. Just be patient and lie still, said Ferdinand irritably.

Hush you two, you’ll give us away with your chatter. This is too an important moment in our lives, reminded Luis in a soft voice.

Ron’s two comrades Ferdinand and Luis lay quietly about twenty meters away from Ron. Each lying quietly well hidden under the leaves of giant Pako Ferns. Each one tensely waiting for what was about to happen. All had captured Japanese light machine guns that had been seized from unsuspecting Japanese patrols and careless guards by Filipino Guerillas. However, Ferdinand and Luis were low on ammunition and grenades. Perhaps a careless Japanese patrol might have the ammunition they needed to continue the guerilla campaign in the Philippines that Luis had started at the outbreak of the war in 1941. Luis was especially skillful in guerilla warfare and was considered the best leader of a Japanese insurgency group called the Huk.

How much longer, Ron wondered? Had Filipino intelligence been correct, that a small Japanese patrol would be coming this way towards the small coastal village of Loay, Bohol and then onto the Japanese Garrison at Tagbilaran City. Luis’s small band of freedom fighters desperately needed Japanese ammunition, grenades and anything else that could sustain their jungle insurgency against the Japanese. Help from the United States’ Far Eastern Command did not provide the needed necessary weapons for Luis and his freedom fighters to fight effectively in jungle warfare. Luis was committed to the communist party and had sworn to continue a peasant uprising against rich landowners at the conclusion of the war. Ferdinand had other ideas about forming an independent government in which he would play a major part, but that idea was on hold for the time being.

What was it that brought Ron to this point in time? Why was he here now with Luis and Ferdinand? By all rights he should be on a USS Naval ship as an officer somewhere with the US Navy in Leyte Gulf. But for now, he was lying in wait hidden on the jungle floor ready to ambush a Japanese patrol. How did he get into such a predicament? Was it a fate of war that Ensign Ron Garron an officer aboard the destroyer USS Abner Reed was here in the jungle with his two companions? By all rights he should be dead or fighting from the deck of a U.S. naval ship. The Abner Reed was sunk three months earlier. Now, he was deep in the jungle fighting with a small group of freedom fighters on the Island of Bohol, Philippines Islands

Three months earlier he was a naval radar intelligence officer on board the American destroyer Abner Reed. In an apparent act of redemption, the Japanese super destroyer Shimakaze (Island Wind) was sent to the Leyte Gulf to report on any lingering allied American and Australian shipping that may be lagging in Leyte Gulf. A week earlier a fierce and historic naval battle had just occurred. The naval battle of Leyte Gulf was considered as perhaps the greatest naval battle of all time as Japan assaulted the allies with everything the Japanese Imperial Navy could muster. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the allies eventually repulsed the Japanese naval force by the American Navy’s 3rd and 7th fleets, but in doing so the American Fleets paid a heavy price in losing many ships and thousands of sailors and airmen. So, on one fateful day on November 1, 1944 the super destroyer Shimakaze along with Kamikaze attack planes were looking for easy stray targets and found the Abner Reed. The Shimakaze had spotted Abner Reed and radioed the ships position to its aircraft carrier to launch an Aichi class Kamikaze bomber plane. As the plane began its final approach towards the ship, the Abner Reed fought for its life as every available gun thundered at Lieutenant Ryoji Imahara’s dive bomber. The kamikaze plane’s cowling was awash with fire but flying officer Ryoji Imahata’s was determined to strike Abner Reed. Lieutenant Imahara was a young officer; and by an unfortunate fate of destiny, he received his white slip of paper from the Emperor ordering him to die for his country by crashing his plane into enemy’s shipping. Outfitted with a single bomb and enough fuel for a one-way flight he guided his plane towards his quarry. Lieutenant Imahara did succeed and fulfilled his personal mission for the Emperor of Japan. He was one of hundreds who blindly gave his life without question to the Emperor. In his final letter to his mother, he did not wish to be a Kamikaze pilot, nor did he wish to blindly sacrifice his life. However, his loyalty to Japan and duty to his emperor was without question, he did not wish to bring shame to his family. Before his bomber plane crashed into the Abner Reed’s main deck, Lieutenant Imahara skillfully maneuvered his plane close enough to deliver a single bomb down one of two smokestacks on the Abner Reed. The bomb exploded in one of the engine rooms while at the same time Lieutenant Imahara ‘s plane crashed and cartwheeled in a fireball diagonally across the main deck. The deck turned into an inferno from the aviation fuel that had spilled out onto the deck. However, its only bomb had done its damage below decks. The fireball consumed Lieutenant Imahara’s plane killing him immediately. After the initial assault on the Abner Reed, succeeding explosions cascaded throughout the ship’s superstructure eventually igniting its magazine stores and fuel tanks. The explosion of flames and black putrid smoke quickly took the lives of the crew on the Abner Reed. The beleaguered ship was awash in flames with belching heavy dark smoke that could be seen by sailing vessels from the distant horizon. Explosions from below decks bellowed loudly from all directions. Ron had no time to help his shipmates. The Abner Reed was listing alarmingly close to the waterline and going down fast. Sailors were screaming from every part of the ship for help from injuries sustained from the concussive explosions of white-hot fire and dense toxic smoke. There were dead sailors still at their general quarter’s positions as well as floating in the sea. Before the attack by Ryoji Imahara’s, dive bomber Ron had ventured top side to evaluate the weather and the Shimakaze’s position. However, one explosion after another cascaded throughout the hapless ship, prevented the naval vessel from firing any of its remaining salvos at the Shimakaze. The Abner Reed began to tremble with convulsive seizures as its death throws marked the end of its life. The concussion waves from the explosions stunned everyone who was topside forcing Ron to lie flat on the deck and escape the fireball from the Kamikaze plane. He was lucky to be wearing his orange-colored Mae West life preserver. How he made it overboard he did not know, perhaps he jumped, or was he pushed by someone, or perhaps the concussion waves of the magazine compartments propelled him into Leyte Gulf. Bobbing up and down as though on a roller coaster, Ron watched in disbelief as he rode the crests and troughs from each wave drifting away from his stricken ship. He had to splash and paddle furiously to avoid waves that were on fire which had ignited from a thick coating of gelatinous bunker oil that was spilling profusely from the Abner Reed. His naval ship rolled over on her side and sank stern first forty five minutes later after the initial attack of flight officer Imahara’s dive bomber. ’The Abner Reed lost its engagement with the enemy and was sunk a week after the battle of Leyte Gulf. Of a crew of three hundred thirty-six sailors there were only a handful of survivors Ron was one of them. What was left of Abner Reed was a sea covered in fire, floating debris and a coating of dirty sticky thick bunker fuel. Ron’s upper body and face was covered in a black coating of gelatinous bunker fuel. He gagged and choked as he swallowed some of the oil causing him to continuously cough and vomit, wrenching his body in spasms of pain. A strong current pushed him away from his stricken ship, far enough out to sea away from the smoke and fire but also far away from other American destroyers which were responding to Abner Reed’s distress calls. He did not see any of his shipmates floating on the surface of the crests and waves of Leyte Gulf. Ron was too far out to sea to be rescued by other US Naval ships.

The naval engagement was witnessed by a small fishing boat. Sailing in the small vessel were two Filipino freedom fighters masquerading as fisherman. It was Ron’s orange-colored Mae West life preserver that caught their attention. Their small sailing boat came along side Ron as he waived for their attention. He had been drifting alone for several hours feeling seasick from riding the swells and troughs of Leyte Gulf. It had occurred to him that he might never be found and that he might die out here drifting helplessly and alone with no land or ship in sight or any other means of life support available to him.

Five hours after the sinking of his ship and by the grace of God Ron was rescued by a small Filipino fishing boat manned by two fishermen. On board were Ferdinand Marcos a well-educated Filipino Army officer on special assignment, along with his partner Luis Taruc. Luis was the peasant leader of a communist group of freedom fighters called the Huk. Both were observing Japanese naval movements and troop positions on Leyte Gulf. In order to make their identities as authentic as possible they had fishing gear and several crates of fish they had caught to give them the appearance of simple and poor but authentic Filipino Fishermen. Catching Ron was not a part of their plan but now they were stuck with him which prevented them from continuing on with their covert military mission. But they could not leave him bobbing in the water either, so they aborted their mission. Hauling Ron into their boat they were amazed that he was an American sailor. Ron’s face and arms and chest were coated in black oil.

Who are you asked Ron. Are you Japanese? he asked cautiously. He had not expected to be picked up a by a small Filipino fishing boat.

No, we are not, we are Filipinos, I’m Ferdinand Marcos and this is my companion Luis Taruc. We saw the thick black smoke and heard the heavy fighting from several miles away. So, we navigated towards it to see what had caused such a disruption on the horizon. We saw you bobbing in the water but no one else from your ship. It was the orange color of your life jacket that gave you away it was easy to spot you against the deep blue color of the sea swells. It saved your life in more ways than one. Ferdinand said with quiet resolve.

Thank you for rescuing me, I’m Ensign Ron Garron of the naval vessel USS Abner Reed. My ship has just been sunk by a Japanese Kamikaze plane. I’m afraid I did not see any survivors. I’m not sure, but I may be the only soul who survived. It seems I was incredibly lucky; however, I’ve lost my ship and my shipmates, he said in quiet resignation.

It is an incredible fate that we were able to rescue you to be here at the right time and this place in this vast ocean so we can save you from drowning. But for now, we must get you to a safe place. I know a quiet little harbor town not too far from here maybe two days sailing time, we can reach the little town of Consolacion, said Luis. I know these waters very well my father is a fish broker he used to take me fishing as a boy to see if I would like to learn the family trade, that’s how I know how to navigate these waters. Ferdinand and I must abandon our current fishing expedition. Our immediate concern is to find a place of safety for you.

With fresh water on hand, and after eating dried fish and day-old rice Ron felt a little better. During his two days on the sailing boat, Ron’s mind wandered to his childhood days growing up in Lahaina Maui. How he had loved to take his skiff out to Molokini Reef to snorkel with the turtles and underwater creatures in the warm crystal-clear water of the Molokai Straights. This was his home; his parents let him go as he was skilled in the ways of the sea. A strong swimmer, he was at home in the warm seas that surrounded Maui He was independent, tall, dark, jet black hair with dark piecing mischievous eyes. Well-tanned from the elements, his lean body and strong muscles made him an excellent swimmer. The locals from Maui thought perhaps he was a native maybe half Portuguese maybe half Asian. His father was an American Seaman while his mother stayed home and took care of the family. Earlier the Navy re-assigned Ron’s family to Pearl Harbor in Honolulu from Alameda Naval Air Station in California during the early 1930’s. Ron’s father eventually retired in 1935 preferring to settle and retire to Maui instead of returning to the mainland. Be it so, Maui was the home he loved more than anything else. Ron had learned to hold his breath for almost three minutes at a time while free diving amongst the coral reefs. He could identify almost every variety of fish that swam in these Hawaiian waters. Above all he loved to hand feed a Zebra Eel with squid, it almost became his pet. Ron believed it was a special gift from God. Each time it recognized Ron it came out of its hole in the coral reef to swim to Ron’s outstretched hand to take the easy sample of fresh squid. In his mind he called it Jackson because he had read somewhere that the meaning of a person named Jackson is easily loved and a pure joy to all who meet him. He felt privelged to have this quiet communion with a dweller of the deep. He never disturbed any of the creatures who dwelled here in Molokini Reef. He felt it brought him luck and good fortune. The coral reef was spectacular. Its warm sparkling pristine clear waters surrounded this lovely little horseshoe shaped remnant of an old volcano was just sublime. He respected and loved nature, he left it as he found it. He did not wish to disturb the creatures that dwelled on his ocean doorstep merely to interact and enjoy observing the rhythms of underwater life. It was a value that he would pass on to his future children. Perhaps his water survival skills as a youth in Maui kept him alive after the sinking of Abner Reed. Ron had just finished his marine biology degree at the University of Hawaii when the Navy began enlisting officers and enlisted men after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. It was the outbreak of World War II when Ron’s life was about to be radically changed forever.

Hurry! Hurry! We must get you off this fishing boat before the Japanese patrol boats find us Ron. yelled Luis After two days and very late at night the fishing boat came to the small secluded quay in the small coastal town of Consolacion on the island of Cebu. They had docked in the dark of night on one of the quiet, calm quays of Consolation. Ron had recovered enough to function and moved as fast as he could. However, still covered in bunker fuel and very stiff and tired he disembarked slowly and gingerly from the fishing boat.

Hurry! Hurry! Ferdinand pleaded, Get off the boat as fast as you can Ron."

The fishing boat and its occupants could be easy targets for any lurking Japanese patrols either on land or water. Ron was just off the gang plank and standing on the quay when the fishing boat was lit up by powerful lights. The dark silence of night was broken as a harsh white spotlight began dancing on the quays from fishing boat to fishing boat. The bright lights from the gun boat eventually spotted their small fishing vessel, lighting up the boat and its two crew members. Ron had just alighted from the boat and was standing on the dock away from the boat. Only his two rescuers were highlighted in the bright spot lite as they were still putting away the sails and fishing tackle. It was a Japanese gunboat almost fifty yards away running at high-speed heading straight for the boat.

You there! tumigil o shoot kami, (stop or I shoot you) came a loud mechanical stern voice in broken Filipino and English from a Japanese officer as he addressed the fishing boat from a bull horn. The two fishermen froze in stricken terror and stood very still as they were silhouetted against the harsh search lights from the Japanese patrol boat against the backdrop of a dark night. The patrol boat could gun them down at any moment without reason. Ron knew the only thing he could do and without endangering the lives of his rescuers and himself was to quietly slip back into the water between the boat and the dock and hold his breath while submerged as he had done some many times before at Molokini Reef. Submerged he held on to the keel for dear life without having to surface for as long as possible in order not to give away his position.

What are you doing so late at night? yelled Captain Hideki Funakoshi.

We have just returned from fishing sir replied Ferdinand.

Where is your catch? demanded Captain Funakoshi. Luis carefully removed the canvas tarp and fishing gear from the crates of fish they had caught several days before. The Japanese officer saw the catch and demanded the two fishermen give their catch to the Japanese sailors. Their ruse as fisherman was authentic enough to fool Captain Funakoshi. They reluctantly gave their fish to the Japanese crew; it was meant for the people of Consolacion. It was lucky that Captain Funakoshi did not wish to interrogate them anymore. He was more interested in eating fresh fish than thirty day old dried out Japanese war rations. Had Captain Funakoshi known that Luis and Ferdinand were freedom fighters and spies they would have been immediately arrested.

Who else is with you? Demanded Captain Funakoshi.

No one sir, replied all two together as though a small child had been caught in a lie. A sweep of the boat revealed no one else on board. But Captain Funakoshi knew they were lying they had probably done something illegal or were involved in hiding contraband. Ron could no longer hold his breath, so he silently surfaced behind the stern of the boat and held on to the large rudder. Taking a deep breath, he submerged silently again under the boat’s keel. The Japanese sailors were more preoccupied with the two fishermen standing in the bow and did not hear or see Ron surfacing and submerging.

We will give you a going away present. Shoot at the boat’s waterline! shouted Captain Funakoshi to his sailors. With a burst of the patrol boat’s two fifty caliber machine gun the Japanese sailors fired at the water line as they had been ordered